KAALtv.com

Snow/Wind A Danger On the Roads

(ABC 6 News) -- The storm was a big one. A dangerous day on the roads with high winds and a lot of snow. In Rochester they got about 7 inches of snow, but that's not even the biggest problem, it’s the wind. Even after MnDOT would plow the roads, the drifts of wind would bring it right back.

"It has been a very long work day," said Robert Langanki with MnDOT.

"We'll be working all night," said Jacob West with CSC Towing and Repair.

All day and all night, we've been drenched in white. Now for some, waking up to this much snow is a good thing. "Don't have to go to school," said some teens, "Get out and ride, time to snowmobile!" they laughed.

However, those that had to get from point A to point B, it wasn't easy. "We did shut down Interstate 35 into Iowa," said Langanski.

"There's still a lot of people off in the ditch, I-90 is real bad, Highway 14 is real bad," said West.

Accidents one after another, from sliding into the median, the ditch and actually crashing. Rochester Police said just in the city, there have been nearly 20 accidents that they know of.

"The plows will go through and they'll clear to the bare surface as much as they possibly can, but the wind just brings the snow back onto the roadways themselves and causes drifting issues," said Langanski.

A danger for drivers and those who are trying to keep them safe. "All the road conditions definitely make it much more hazardous for people that are in positions as us just because you are out there on the side of the major intersections and highways," said West.

"We actually had one hit on interstate 35 about 3 or 5 hours ago in the left hand lane," said Langanski. Getting swiped by cars, but of course, they'll continue to work in the worst of it to keep the roads and drivers safe.

We're out here just trying to do this job for the public so just give us room to be able to move," said Langanski.

"That’s what we're here for. That's what we do," said West.

Mn/DOT says since the storm and wind has pretty much been non-stop, they haven't put many chemicals or salt on the roads. Once it starts winding down, they hope to do that overnight in time for morning commuters.